Gossip: Heading to Broadway

Thursday

May 27, 2010 at 2:00 AM

we knew her when

Jeanné McCartin

we knew her when

Merrill Peiffer, who began her performance career at 16 at Seacoast Repertory Theatre in Portsmouth, just landed a role in the Broadway national tour of "Mama Mia." Peiffer is cast in the ensemble and as the understudy for both the lead and a second role.

"It starts rehearsals late summer, and we tour all around Canada and the U.S. Some of the cities we hit: Anchorage, Alaska;, Denver, Colorado; Worcester, Mass., Seattle, Washington," says the 20-something Peiffer. "I am SOOO thrilled! Can't believe it! It all started (in Portsmouth) for me. Seacoast represents!"

charlie strater gets a yee-haw

Charlie Strater, of Stratham, is one of four regional songwriters invited to take part in the Country Throwdown 2010 national tour, which hits the Meadowbrook U.S. Cellular Pavilion, in Gilford, on May 31. He's performing in a special pre-mainstage tent event for up-and-coming songwriters.

"One of (the event sponsors) is the Blue Bird Café in Nashville, where you want to play if you're a writer. ...;. They've sponsored the songwriter's tent, which features four or five young, up-and-coming hotshots out of Nashville ...; and they decided they wanted local people to be a part of it at every stop."

Strater heard the call; sent in his work, and bada-bing, he's in. The area artists open things at 1 p.m., each solo, singing in the round. Then the Nashville writers, who pen for the likes of Keith Urban and Faith Hill take the stage. Then its mainstage time. (Info at www.countrythrowdown.com/)

"It's a great opportunity. We're playing at the U.S. Cellular ...; a pretty good gig," he says with a laugh. "Where am I playing next? I'll probably be going from the pavilion to a farmers market." And indeed he will. Catch him at the Portsmouth farmers market on June 12, and before that May 28 at Dover's Barley Pub.

lettin' off some steam punk

This has to be one of John Herman's most interesting if not elaborate "extravaganzas" to date; and that's saying something. This time the multi-talented artist/media-maker/teacher/collaborator has put together a mini arts mixer: a play contest, festival, anthology, and multi-media event.

"So all right; I pitched an evening of one-act plays at the Players' Ring. ...; I created a very specific vision. It's an evening of Steampunk or robot comedy or tragedy. It's a cross section between technology and human culture — my interests, and that's what I want people to explore in their plays."

Herman pauses to give a few examples. "Steampunk is very popular now, but there's a lot of people who don't know that's what they're seeing. For example the new Sherlock Holmes' movie; it showed advanced technology for that time period — advanced anachronistic technology in our collective past." Did that help? OK try this. "Mary Shelley ...; and Jules Verne is another perfect example. He wrote stories about advanced technology, but not really science fiction. Now they call this Steampunk. They're writing about the 1880s, but there are robots." He also notes this year's Nebula award went to "The Wind Up Girl" — a Steampunk piece.

He figures he'll present nine, 10-minute plays at the Ring. The show goes up Sept. 24. But it doesn't end there. Of course not! This is Herman! The performances will be live-streamed.

"There's more," he says. (Surprised)? All of the submitted plays will be published on the Web as a Creative Commons licensed Steampunk short play anthology, "and downloadable as a PDF." Other artists are invited to create works inspired by the plays. Herman is already seeking musicians and comic book artist — but all art forms are invited.

"So that weekend you can watch the plays, then go online at home and read more and listen to music inspired by plays or read a comic book ...; " and so on.

The anthology and presented plays' title will be taken from one of the submissions. There's no geographical limit on entries. Herman already saw the call for plays on a number of punk Web sites, so he's hopeful. Area directors and actors are being sought.

The only "rule" of sorts is "it has to be doable" — for example no huge casts. A workshop will be offered the week before deadline. Deadline: July 18. Selections announced Aug. 1. (Info at www.johnherman.org/blog/)

Pontine Theatre, which is one of four New Hampshire cultural organizations awarded funding from the National Endowment for the Arts. The Portsmouth company received $12,000 to support its Regional Touring Program. The project will provide performances and educational programs to the public, schools, colleges and senior care centers around New England.

...; And to Nextera Energy, which was awarded a New Hampshire Business Committee for the Arts Award for its decade long sponsorship of Seacoast Repertory Theatre, backing its annual fund-raiser and mainstage productions as well as assisting the Rep with start-up funds after it acquired the Mill Pond Center in Durham.

...; And — Paul Todd Sullivan who will have two photos in the upcoming Juston McKinney comedy DVD.

Jeanné McCartin has her eyes and ears out for Seacoast gossip. Visit her blog at http://thegossiplady.blogspot.com and e-mail maskmakernh@gmail.com.

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